Deauntae Grimes didn’t get as many touches of the football that he’d like last season.

He played behind Bra’lon Cherry, now playing at N.C. State, and waited for his opportunity to shine.

Instead of sulking or complaining, Grimes learned and worked on improving.

The senior wide receiver is leading the New Bern Bears with 30 catches for 365 yards and a couple touchdowns.

“Now that he’s gotten his turn, he’s been patient,” New Bern coach Bobby Curlings said. “He is where he is supposed to be and when he gets a chance to make a play, he does.

“He’s a good student, a good person and a well-rounded kid.”

Grimes has been a steady target for first-year varsity quarterback Michael Hughes. Grimes had a season-high 88 receiving yards and eight catches against Havelock earlier in the year.

He scored touchdowns against C.B. Aycock and South Central.

“As senior, I’m expected to be more of a leader,” Grimes said. “I have to have more of an impact than I did last year.”

Grimes, in his second year on varsity, learned from previous New Bern receivers that there is much more to the position than simply catching the ball.

“I learned different things like the main key in blocking,” Grimes said. “Catching and running with the ball isn’t the only thing. You have to block for your teammates, run the routes right and do the small things.”

Grimes has the speed to beat opposing defenses deep, but he is mostly a possession receiver with the skills to make teams miss tackles.

“He has found his niche at finding spots to get open and making some people miss after catching the ball,” said Curlings.

“He does a good job of being a possession-type receiver, but he is going to get some yards after making a catch.”

Grimes didn’t expect to be this much of an impact player, but he practiced hard in the offseason to get to this point.

And it’s paying off.

“I felt like I had to do more, but not too much to where it would knock me off of my game,” Grimes said. “I had to keep my role and carry what I learned last year and teach some of the newer guys.”

Grimes is also grateful he gets to play with his twin brother, Leauntae Grimes, on a daily basis.

The two won a state championship together last season.

“When I line up and have him on the other side of me, it feels good to have that brother there with you,” Grimes said. “I love him and I would do anything for him.

“When he has the ball, I am going to run just as hard to get him in the end zone.”